Back-to-back allowance races featured Thursday

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Back-to-back allowances will be the highlights Thursday at Keeneland as the days continue to dwindle at the 17-day meet. First post for a nine-race card is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

Race 8, a $73,000, third-level sprint, serves as the nominal feature. Mines and Magic, beaten a nose for this same condition last month at Churchill, is among a handful of viable contenders in a field of 11 fillies and mares, along with Nineteenth Street, Annathela, and Thirteen Songs.

Race 7, a $69,000, first-level turf route for 3-year-olds and up, is similarly well-matched, with Zumurudee, Captain Hardship, Sir Sahib, and Cape Angel the likely favorites.

◗ Virginia Tormey will make her race-riding debut Thursday when getting a 10-pound allowance aboard Ruthless Child in the third race at Keeneland. Tormey, 23, grew up in Clayton, N.C., and has exercised horses over the last couple of years for trainers Christophe Clement, Brad Cox, and Eddie Kenneally.